Design For Reactor Core Safety In Nuclear Power Plants

Covers the mechanical, chemical, thermal, hydraulic, neutronic and irradiation considerations important to the safe design of a nuclear reactor core. The core features of commonly used reactor types including light and heavy water reactors, as well as gas cooled reactors, are addressed.

The reactor core is the central part of a nuclear reactor where nuclear fission occurs. It consists of four basic systems and components: the fuel (including fuel rods and the fuel assembly structure), the coolant, the moderator and the control rods, as well as additional structures such as reactor pressure vessel internals, core support plates, and the lower and upper internal structure in light water reactors. This Safety Guide provides recommendations on meeting the safety requirements established in IAEA Safety Standards Series No. SSR-2/1 (Rev. 1), Safety of Nuclear Power Plants: Design, applied to the design of the reactor core for nuclear power plants. The publication addresses the safety aspects of the core design and includes neutronic, thermohydraulic, thermomechanical and structural mechanical aspects. Other aspects considered are those relating to reactor core control, shutdown and monitoring, and core management.

Establishes design requirements for safety functions and associated structures, systems and components important to the safe operation of nuclear power plants. This publication also establishes requirements for a comprehensive safety assessment to identify the potential hazards that may arise in the operation of plants.

This publication makes recommendations concerning safety features for incorporation into the design of the reactor core for a nuclear power plant, taking account of recent developments in the design of the reactor core and including guidance on general and specific design considerations. It supersedes IAEA Safety Series No. 50-SG-D14.

The reactor core is the central part of a nuclear reactor where nuclear fission occurs. It consists of four basic systems and components: the fuel (including fuel rods and the fuel assembly structure), the coolant, the moderator and the control rods, as well as additional structures such as reactor pressure vessel internals, core support plates, and the lower and upper internal structure in light water reactors. This Safety Guide provides recommendations on meeting the safety requirements established in SSR-2/1 (Rev. 1) applied to the design of the reactor core for nuclear power plants. The publication addresses the safety aspects of the core design and includes neutronic, thermohydraulic, thermomechanical, and structural mechanical aspects. Other aspects considered are those relating to reactor core control, shutdown and monitoring, and core management.